"Certainly not," replied Thorneycroft, accelerating his movements; "I hope there's no chance of it."
"There's every chance of it," rejoined Old Parr. "If you're taken, you'll share Auriol's fate."
"O Lord! I hope not," groaned the iron-merchant. "I declare, you frighten me so much that you take away all power of movement. I shall drop in a minute."
"Come along, I say," screamed the dwarf. "I hear them close behind us."
And as he spoke, shouts, and the noise of rapidly-approaching footsteps, resounded along the passage.
"I can't stir another step," gasped the iron-merchant. "I'm completely done. Better yield at once."
"What, without a struggle?" cried the dwarf tauntingly. "Think of your daughter, and let the thought of her nerve your heart. She is lost for ever, if you don't get out of this accursed place."
"She is lost for ever as it is," cried the iron-merchant despairingly.
"No—she may yet be saved," rejoined the dwarf. "Come on—come on—they are close behind us."
And it was evident, from the increased clamour, that their pursuers were upon them.